turkey requested the patriots from nato to defend itself against possible spillover from the ongoing conflict in syria. >> in another story, russian president vladimir putin has offered aid to lebanon as the country struggles to deal with an influx of refugees from neighboring syria. >> in a meeting with the lebanese president, putin said russia had offered financial and humanitarian aid to help deal with the crisis. the head of the african union has called on germany to increase its contribution to the french-led military mission in mali. >> so far, germany's involvement has been limited to providing air transport for african forces heading into mali. merkel has also not promise to provide equipment for those troops. >> a warm welcome for the president of the military honors were cancelled due to the biting cold. then it was ripe for talks with the chancellor. both were concerned about the situation in mali. >> germany is engaged in the logistics of moving troops, but it is also about equipment and training mali's military. the president has expressed the urgency of this in terms of